''Oύτε μια στιγμή''

1. Αντίληψη του Δρόμου μέσω της Καθημερινής Ζωής

Υπήρχε κάποτε ένας νεαρός δάσκαλος Λονγκ Ταν, ο οποίος επισκέφθηκε τον δάσκαλο Ντάο Γου. ''Από τον τόπο απ' όπου έρχομαι'', είπε ο νεαρός Λονγκ Ταν," ποτέ δεν κατάλαβα ότι εσύ ήσουν που προκαλούσες τις εφέσεις μου αντί για εμένα."

"Στον τόπο απ' όπου έρχεσαι'', απάντησε ο δάσκαλος, "δεν υπήρξε, ούτε μια στιγμή που να μην προκαλούσα τις εφέσεις σου."

(''Δείχνοντας τη Σελήνη, 100 Κοάν από τους Κινέζους Δασκάλους", μετάφραση Ανδρέας Λυμπερόπουλος,      ΚΕΔΡΟΣ 1995)

Minimum foothold

"Respecting the further questions you ask, let me, in the first place, answer generally that the Japanese policy should be that of keeping Americans and Europeans as much as possible at arm's length.

In presence of the more powerful races your position is one of chronic danger, and you should take every precaution to give as little foothold as possible to foreigners.''

(from ''Japan, an attempt at interpretation'', by Lafcadio Hearn, Amazon Fulfillment Press)

Ego as the enemy

'Tis a common proof, that lowliness is young ambition's ladder.

(from ''Julius Caesar'' by William Shakespeare)

Attention and zazen

'In the broad sense zazen embraces more than just correct sitting. To enter fully into every action with total attention and clear awareness is no less zazen.''

(From ''The three pillars of Zen'' by Roshi Philip Kapleau, Anchor Books) 

The climb of the renunciates

I raised the Indian flag atop Arunachala,

I was with fifty seven gods once more,

and on the Divine for the second time.

A medium in between

Energy attracts more energy. Become a vessel-empty, filled, overflowing. When you feel now it is too much, unbearable, bow down to earth. Kiss the earth and remain silent there, as if you are pouring the energy into the earth. Take from the sky; give back to the earth. You become just a medium in between.

(''From Chaos to Cosmos'' by Osho, Diamond Pocket books, 2000) 

Living the life

Shall I fall on bended knees and wait for someone to bless me with happiness and a life of golden dreams?   No.

I shall run into the desert of life with my arms open, sometimes falling, sometimes stumbling, but always picking myself up, a thousand times if necessary.

Often life will burn me; often life will caress me tenderly. Many of my days shall be haunted by complications and obstacles, and there will be moments so beautiful that my soul shall weep in ecstasy. I shall be a witness, but never shall I run or turn from life.

(From 'Sannyasa Darshan' by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, YOGA PUBLICATIONS TRUST, India 1991)